jobs

Bar Manager

£28,000 annum (plus tips) / 40 hours week - starting mid August 2026

We are looking for an experienced hospitality manager to join Cardiff’s bustling music hub, Paradise Garden and take lead on our day-to-day bar operations.

About PG:

Paradise Garden is a unique and vibrant music bar in the heart of City Road, Cardiff. The venue is a social hub catered to the creative sector in the city with intimate live music gigs and DJ events throughout the week. We provide a space for non-commercial music and act as a platform for local talent to showcase their art. We are also home of Sudd Radio who broadcast from the venue during weekdays.

We serve everything from coffees to cocktails. The venue has a sizable beer garden with a yurt that doubles up as a function room, and mobile bar for sunny days. Inside the main bar we have Cardiff’s only audiophile sound system.

Job role:

We are looking for a confident and driven full time bar manager to join Paradise Garden and take lead on our day-to-day bar operations. You’ll be working closely with the directors to streamline the business, whilst making your own mark with the daily running of a busy, well attended grassroots music space and cocktail bar.

You will be taking the reins on managing and developing our small but mighty FOH team ensuring our team is motivated and events at Paradise Garden run smoothly.

We are looking for someone with a lot of energy, proven hospitality management experience and is excited to get stuck-in as a safe pair of hands to manage events in a fast paced bar environment. Ideally - you are someone who is interested in music / the arts and are inspired to work in a venue that champions creativity. Essentially - you are someone who is very customer focused and an excellent team leader.

Responsibilities:

  • Leading and working alongside the FOH team - motivating, supporting and developing them so they are inspired and confident.

  • Ensuring events run smoothly, acting as point of contact during events for promoters, artists and private bookings, with a high level of customer experience maintained.

  • Managing internal staff processes such as holiday and sickness requests, staff training/development, recruitment, conduct issues and regular 1-2-1 check ins with the team.

  • Coordinate and manage our contracted door staff on weekends and bank holidays.

  • Forecast and manage staff rota, making sure we are sufficiently staffed throughout the year, adhere to budget and accurately timekeep the team’s hours for payroll.

  • Work closely with directors to streamline systems and find opportunities to improve business performance.

  • Work alongside directors to manage inventory levels, wastage and stock takes.

  • Support directors with responding to private booking and table reservation email enquiries.

  • Provide an excellent customer experience at PG with consistency and quality upheld across our products and services.

  • Maintain and uphold the Paradise Garden brand identity and values at all times.

  • Regular reporting and feedback to the directors.

  • Support directors with venue maintenance, reporting issues and suggest areas for improvement.

  • Manage the drinks menu, keeping the cocktail and specials offering fresh and seasonal, training staff to serve new products with confidence.

  • Maintain excellent cleanliness of the venue including line cleans, managing cleaning rotas/systems and making sure a high standard is always met inline with EHO requirements.

  • Work with directors to manage the backend POS system, helping to keep track of spend, inventory costs, menu changes and utilising available tools such as loyalty and table bookings.

  • Keep on top of relevant hospitality trends and suggest/implement new ideas to help drive business.

  • Manage and distribute staff tips.

  • Help trouble shoot basic music/venue equipment issues during events, making sure sound levels are comfortable and the lighting is adjusted accordingly (training for this will be provided).

Required Experience:

  • 2+ years in a hospitality manager role.

  • Must have experience working in a high traffic bar environment.

  • Experience working in a music led venue (desirable but not essential).

Offer:

  • £28,000 annual salary (plus tips).

  • 40 hours a week.

  • 28 days holiday.

  • 50% off staff discount at the Paradise Garden bar.

  • Free entry to PG related gigs and club nights.

  • Staff socials and team building days.

  • Training opportunities (including music and events based training opportunities).

Additional notes:

  • Must be a Personal Licence holder.

  • Subject to 3 month probationary period.

  • There will be a handover period of 2-3 weeks working alongside our current manager.

  • Welsh speaker is a big bonus, but not essential.

To apply, send your CV with a cover letter to david@paradise-garden.co.uk no later than July 26th.

Interviews will take place over July / early August with a view to start around the 26th August.